My sister, Lisa, took advantage of her husband’s death to get close to my husband, Rick, and then started pressuring me to divorce him so she could take my place. Lisa lost her husband a year ago, and after that, she approached Rick for help. They met several times without me, and I once came home to find them lying on the same bed—though both were clothed and not facing each other, it still made me extremely uncomfortable. I asked Lisa to leave, but the very next day Rick invited her to our house without telling me.

I clearly remember opening the door to see Lisa crying and rushing into Rick’s arms. Before anyone could say anything, she told me to leave the room because they had private matters to discuss. When I heard Lisa’s moans, I couldn’t believe my eyes when I walked back in and saw them kissing passionately. My world shattered before me. I ran out and locked myself in the bedroom, trying to hold back the pain. Rick came after, avoiding my gaze, mumbling a few words before sitting on the bed. When I asked him what was going on, he stayed silent until I shouted for him to answer, and then he admitted he loved Lisa.

I collapsed, unable to believe that after 10 years together, he would betray me like this with my own sister. Rick said he regretted never experiencing other women before marrying me, and after spending time with Lisa, he realized she was the one he wanted. I was speechless; my life felt completely destroyed. I also told him I might be pregnant, but he wasn’t shocked—he said he would support me even though he planned to leave me for Lisa and offered to give me everything if I agreed to a divorce.

I was furious and shouted at him to leave, never wanting to see him again. He even tried to hug me, but I pushed him away. Then he said he still loved me and wanted to work things out, and left.

I called my mother, who revealed that Lisa had confessed her feelings for Rick a long time ago and had wanted to be with him. That’s when I began looking for a lawyer to prepare for divorce.

The next day, I bought a pregnancy test and was lucky it was negative, though we had tried to have a child before. Then I received a letter from Lisa apologizing for everything, explaining she felt lonely after losing her husband, gradually fell for Rick, and couldn’t let go. Lisa claimed they did nothing beyond the single kiss I saw and asked for my forgiveness.

Rick also called, saying he still loved me and wanted to reconcile, which confused me. I didn’t understand why he would say that after leaving me for Lisa.

My mother said she had known about Lisa’s feelings for Rick for a long time and tried to persuade her to give up but failed. Lisa also blamed me for “showing off happiness” with Rick, which hurt her, and told me not to contact Rick anymore; she would send divorce papers soon. Later, I learned Lisa was pregnant with Rick’s child.

Rick called me as soon as he heard from my father, apologized, and said he didn’t want things to turn out like this. I asked how Lisa could be pregnant when we were trying for a baby, and he said maybe he could still get me pregnant if I wanted. I angrily yelled; he admitted he wanted to be with both of us, thinking he was a playboy.

Then Lisa texted saying she would bring the divorce papers in a week, and they planned to marry next month, inviting me to the wedding but asking me to pretend nothing had happened with Rick. I was truly confused—not knowing where the man I loved 10 years ago had gone, and why I still wanted to hold on despite knowing it was impossible.

In the end, I no longer considered Lisa my sister; she had destroyed my life. I was heartbroken and didn’t know what to do with Rick, who kept texting that he still loved me and wanted to have a child with me even after choosing Lisa.

After a while, I bitterly admitted I had been tempted and even thought of going back to Rick to get revenge on Lisa. Rick also tried to contact me despite Lisa trying to keep him away. Eventually, Rick and I reunited; I became pregnant with his child and hoped life would get better. But then the family turned against me, Lisa angrily threatened me, and I had to seek a protection order.

Rick was under pressure to cut contact with me or face family rejection. He grew distant, unwilling to divorce immediately for many reasons. He even accused me of seducing him back and blamed me for making his life harder by getting pregnant. I realized I had been blinded, destroying my own life in pursuit of happiness.

Now I am eight months pregnant, scared about raising a child alone, unwilling to give up my baby but heartbroken over losing my husband, family, and friends. I am almost completely alone in a mess I caused myself.